Rull Orchard
Member Overview
Sustainable, Small‑Batch Cider & Artisan Drinks from a Rewilded Mid‑Devon Orchard.
Rull Orchard is a small artisan cidery based in Bickleigh, Mid Devon, producing award‑winning cider, perry, juices and honey from fruit grown on a carefully managed orchard shaped by permaculture, rewilding and biodiversity‑first principles. Founded in 2017 by Mike Shorland and Claire Daniels, Rull Orchard is guided by a commitment to working with nature, not against it, creating drinks that reflect place, season and fruit character.
An Orchard Built Around Ecology & Provenance
Rull Orchard is more than a cidery — it is a self‑sufficient, ecologically sustainable site, combining orchard, woodland and wetland habitats. The team actively promotes biodiversity through:
- No pesticides or insecticides
- Wildflower areas and pollinator‑friendly planting
- Beehives supporting honey production
- Rewilding and permaculture‑led orchard management
The orchard’s Mid Devon soils and Exe Valley microclimate create ideal conditions for fruit trees, allowing Rull’s apples and pears to develop depth, balance and complexity.
Modern Ciders Rooted in Heritage Techniques
Rull Orchard’s ciders are modern, refined and terroir‑driven, made using a combination of traditional heritage methods and minimal‑intervention techniques. Fermentation is typically:
- Wild and natural, using the orchard’s own yeasts
- Low‑intervention, allowing the fruit to lead
- Aged slowly, with releases as limited editions the following year
Each season’s apples are fermented over winter, with careful blending shaping the final character of the cider.
A Distinctive Range of Artisan Drinks
Rull Orchard produces a varied and expressive range of drinks, including:
- Sparkling and still ciders, from dry to gently sweet
- Perries, using traditional pear varieties
- Pomological, a rich, sweet after‑dinner cider created using apples from a neighbouring orchard over 130 years old
- Small‑batch fruit juices
- Raw orchard honey, produced on site
Mike Shorland is also one of the first qualified pomeliers in the UK, bringing a refined sensory approach to blending and food pairing, particularly with cheese and dessert courses.
Award‑Winning & Widely Recognised
Despite its small scale, Rull Orchard has earned significant recognition, including:
- Multiple Gold Awards at the Food Drink Devon Awards, including for Devon Heritage cider
- Food Drink Devon Sustainability Pioneer Gold Award, recognising the orchard’s environmental leadership
- National coverage for its Devon Heritage Blend, named “Number 1 Cider to Try” by The Telegraph’s Suzy Atkins
Rull’s PerryOte has also been recognised as Best New Drink at the Devon Food & Drink Awards.
Events, Tastings & Cider Culture
Rull Orchard regularly hosts seasonal on‑site events, celebrating cider heritage and community, including:
- Wassails are rooted in traditional orchard folklore
- Feast nights pairing ciders and perries with dishes from local chefs and producers
- Guided tastings highlighting fruit, fermentation and blending
These small‑scale, intimate events reinforce the connection between orchard, producer and drinker.
Local Sales & Distribution
Rull Orchard’s drinks are available via:
- Direct online sales from the orchard
- Farmers’ markets across Mid Devon, Somerset and Devon
- Selected independent retailers and food festivals
All products are produced in small quantities, ensuring quality, care and traceability
Producers | Cider & Perry Makers | Sustainable & Low‑Intervention Drinks | Artisan Producers | Mid Devon | Rull Orchard | Devon cider | sustainable cider Devon | Mid Devon cidery | wild fermented cider
Where to find us